I have the Z spec t-5 with .63:1 od I am running 3:80s on a tru track LSD...Its a great combo.

 

I am leaving the office now, here is the plan

http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&sourc...,1.977539&z=10

http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&sourc...37499999999996

Nice, empty roads outside the city + freeway to try the 5th gear + check oil level before / after.

 

Glad to hear it worked out, Remi. Now go ruin some tires!

 

I'm putting a freshly rebuilt T5 in my car next week. Needless to say I was excited before, but reading this thread makes me want to drop in some new gears while I'm at it. Although I've been running with the original manual 3 speed for so long, it will be nice to enjoy a long drive from the Bay Area down to LA with that overdrive gear!

 

I am back from my test drive! I drove for about two hours, small roads + freeway + city. My oil level was perfect when I started (exactly in between min and max) but as expected I saw small drops after parking it and when I checked the level again (engine warm) it was a little below min. I definitely have to have this main rear seal fixed

Other than that, it was great! I highly recommend 3.55 (or potentially 3.70) with a T5. That's exactly the way I like to drive: it can be smooth but you can always accelerate like crazy between two turns. I did not go past 5k RPM, I have plenty of power before that.

I can still probably make the tuning a little bit better (i.e. it is completely different than before but dyno tuning would help making it perfect).

In terms of sound, I love the rough idle and going past 2K with a 289 with Flowmaster is just ... pure pleasure!

In terms of 5th gear, it is still slow but perfectly usable past 60/65. I love to go back to 4th from time to time (usually it gets around 3K and the sound is great).

Just to conclude, my dad drives a 1986 Porsche 911 in France and that was kind of the reference for me (in terms of pleasure from the engine - a 3.2L with 231rwhp). I can proudly say now that my small 289 has nothing to be jealous of

 

i'd say the 'small tuning of the carb' might have cured most of the under 3000 not pulling problem ;-)

 

im about to order my new gear/track-loc unit. im going with a 3.40 though because i have a toploader 4 spd and no overdrive!